While United States media outlets have been damning the abrupt ending of the G7 Summit in Quebec, Canada and the fact President Donald Trump abbreviated talks with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Jamaicans are celebrating the fact that the tiny island distinguished itself as the only English-speaking Caribbean country invited to join the talks with leaders of France, USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada.
Heads of the European Union are traditionally asked into the conversations, however, beyond the core membership of the group few are ever asked to join in discussions with developed nations.
On this recent go round, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness along with the leaders of Argentina, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Haiti, Kenya, Marshall Islands and Norway were invited. The 12 countries and four international organizations were able to expand discussions beyond those that concern wealthy nations.